Check out the crafty goodness I found at my parents’ place this past weekend! I was finishing up the sort/purge of my old bedroom, before my parents move to Singapore, and came upon a bag of stuffed animals.

I found some old best friends, of course. I love that my uncle, in his mid-twenties when I was born, kept giving me white toys.

But I also found some nifty, crafty items–both homemade. First up, the birth of amigurumi! Crocheted in the late 70s, this ice cream cone was made for me by my mom.

I wish I knew crochet well enough to figure out how to make those blumpy spots of melting ice cream, because otherwise I suppose this would be pretty easy to make. I say this, of course, but I know nothing about crocheting toys–any experts out there got any ideas or patterns? I’ve been itching to try some amigurumi, but my crochet skills are pretty nonexistent. I used to claim I knew how to crochet, but a friend recently pointed out that I wasn’t doing enough wraps on what I thought was a double crochet, so I shrug and now claim that I could know how to crochet, if I put my mind to it. And I’m thinking about putting my mind to it soon.

The other find was my first sewn toy, made in Home Ec in 6th grade.

I remember that we had a choice of animals, but I have no idea what the other options were. I feel as though most people made the shark. I’d forgotten all about this guy until he came peeking out of the bag. I think smaller versions would be very cute for baby gifts!

Oh my god – I sewed the same exact shark pillow in junior high home ec. I haven’t thought about it for years – but now that I see your photo I remember it exactly. What are the chances?? Was it some kind of standard junior-high-home-ec-issued-sewing-pattern? I have no idea what happened to mine…

hum. maybe you’re my twin as well. The last time that I went to my parents house I picked up (among other things) a bag of my best loved stuffed animals and crafty things that I made as a kid including two L-shaped pillows. I made the pillows (my initials) in 7th grade Home Ec after I finished making the required sweatpants. I wish I could have made a shark instead.

I love the ice cream cone. Fiberlicious, truly. I never took home ec, it wasn’t offered in my schools (the administrators thought of themselves as progressive, I guess). I love all the cuteness on this post today. It makes me wish that I had sat through a a home economics class or two!

I made the shark in junior high home ec as well, back in… 1980? Everyone else in my class who made the shark made it in blue, but I somehow thought mustard yellow with green fins would be a good idea. My mother still has it on prominent display in her TV room. Ouch.

OMG! I recognize that shark! I made a goofy bear, but it was in the same line of patterns.

And i am looking for those patterns! Anybody know what company made those patterns or where to find them??? Everyone around me is pregnant or with toddler so it’s time for a revival of the jr high stuffed animal/pillow!

Funny! Talk about a blast from the past!I made the shark in blue and in green (named Herman and Hermione, don’t ask why, I have no idea), to go along with my dad on road trips. Would love to find the whole range of these patterns to make with my granddaughter! Talk about a blast from the past!